# NTSB BFO94LA061: Cessna 172N, N739HC, Clarksburg, WV, April 7, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 1994, 22:20 local (Apr 7, 1994, 02:20 UTC) - Place: Clarksburg, WV - Coordinates: 39.279384, -80.329818 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2794&lon=-80.3298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 7, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 8906 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO94LA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8906/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA061 ## Probable cause the pilot's selection of a downwind runway, and his inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. A factor was the gusting tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload - landing gear,nose gear - overload - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown ## Analysis The airplane was on the landing roll when it encountered a wind gust. The airplane became airborne, descended and impacted hard on the runway. The right main and nose gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. According to the pilot, ' ...a wind gust from the left side lifted up the left wing and the airplane became airborne. The aircraft then appeared to lift off the runway surface and veer to the right, out of control, never gaining much altitude or speed, crashing just east of the runway.' The pilot had been cleared to land on runway 21; however, the pilot requested and was cleared to land on runway 3. The reported winds were 270 degrees at 13 knots with gusts to 20. ## Factual narrative On Wednesday, April 6, 1994 at 2220 hours eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172, N739HC, piloted by Richard A. White, encountered wind gusts and nosed over during landing at Clarksburg Airport (CKB), Clarksburg, West Virginia. The certified flight instructor and his two passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The business flight was being operated by Southern Ohio Aviation, Incorporated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated in Charleston, West Virginia and was arriving at its destination when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the operation. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control Specialist. The airplane "appeared to have made a landing on the runway and was rolling out. The aircraft then appeared to lift off the runway surface and veer to the right , out of control, never gaining much altitude or speed, crashing just east of the runway...." The pilot stated that "During rollout...a wind gust from the left side lifted up the left wing and the airplane became airborne..., [The airplane], came down hard on the right main and nose gear, collapsing the nose gear and flipping upside down." An FAA safety inspector examined the airplane and interviewed witnesses . He reported the pilot was cleared by FAA air traffic control personnel to land on runway 21. The pilot requested to land on runway 03. The controller reported the winds to the pilot and the pilot elected to land on runway 03. The winds at the time of the accident were reported to be from 270 degrees at 13 knots with gusts to 20 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N739HC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N739HC), registered now, S/N 17270547, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17270547 - Airframe hours: 5978 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-H2AD 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Southern Ohio Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Southern Ohio Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 21, 1994, 42 hours before - Departed: HTW, CHESAPEAKE, OH - Destination: CKB - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: CKB, Benedum, runway 3, 5,198 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,380 total, 2,400 in this make and model, 6,347 as pilot in command, 170 in the last 90 days, 86 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 270° at 13 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft broken - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CKB ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940406000329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940406000329A), Apr 6, 1994: Cessna 172N, Clarksburg, WV, Substantial damage. Crosswind gust lifted left wing on landing roll. Ballooned came down hard on right gear. Folded nose gear. Flipped. ## Other investigations on N739HC (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI79DEP36](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79DEP36), Mar 14, 1979: Cessna 172 (N739HC), Milwaukee, WI, minor damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.